Men's Hockey | 1/3/2018 9:44:00 AM
Off the Hop: #7 Minnesota State (14-6-0 overall, 12-4-0 WCHA) is on the road for a pair of Western Collegiate Hockey Association games this weekend with the University of Alaska Anchorage (1-13-4, 1-8-3 WCHA) on the docket this weekend in Anchorage. Face-off between the Mavericks and the Seawolves at Sullivan Arena (6,251) is slated for 10:07 p.m. CST both Friday and Saturday.
Minnesota State also plays at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks Jan. 12-13.
About the Minnesota State-Alaska Anchorage Series: Minnesota State owns a 47-25-9 all-time record against the Seawolves and have gone 6-1-1 in the last eight games vs. the Seawolves. The series between the two schools dates back to the 1982-83 season.
Minnesota State Most Recently: Rated #7 this week by both USCHO and USA Today/USA Hockey (and sixth in the pairwise rankings), Minnesota State stands 14-6-0 overall and stands atop the WCHA standings with an 12-4-0 record in league games after splitting a home league series with Northern Michigan last weekend ( 4-3 loss and 6-3 win). The Mavericks enter this weekend vs. the Seawolves having won five of its last six games.
Alaska Anchorage Most Recently: The Seawolves are 1-13-4 overall and 1-8-3 WCHA on the season. UAA lost a pair of WCHA road contests at Bemidji State in their most-recent outings (5-1 and 4-0 Dec. 15-16 in Bemidji). The Seawolves are led by Matt Thomas (RIT '98), who is in his fifth season behind the UAA bench. Thomas owns a 45-92-21 mark as head coach of UAA.
Minnesota State On the Web: Tickets, releases, statistics, player and staff biographies, etc. on all of Minnesota State's 20 sports are available at the official website of MSU Athletics located at www.msumavericks.com
Minnesota State All-Time: The Minnesota State men's hockey program, begun in 1969-70, completed its 48th year of competition last year. The Mavericks are in their 22nd year as members of NCAA Division I and in their 19th season as members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. The Mavericks sport an all-time record of 872-641-153. (.569).
C.J. Suess Notes: Three-year letterwinner is in his second season as team captain..2016-17 All-WCHA Second Team selection...Tied for second on team in scoring and fourth in goals with 12-19--31 as a junior...Led Mavericks with seven power play goals and ranked second on team with four game-winners...Suess, who had a four points on two goals and two assists vs. Northern Michigan last weekend, enters the series vs. UAA riding a six-game point scoring streak (6-4--10). Suess leads Minnesota State in scoring with 10-16--26 and stands as Minnesota State's active career scoring leader with 110 points on 45 goals and 65 assists. Suess's 110 points rank ninth on the school's career scoring list for the DI-era. Suess, who has seen action in 137 career games, has played in 108 consecutive games.
Zeb Knutson Notes: Three-year letterwinner (2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17) finished fifth on school's point-scoring charts in 2016-17 with 15 goals and 10 assists for 25 points... Posted career highs for goals and points in a season...Led Mavericks in goals (15) and game-winning goals (5)... Named the WCHA Offensive Player of the Week after racking up five points on two goals and three assists in the two wins over Michigan Tech (Oct. 27-28)...Named WCHA Offensive Player of the Week after accumulating 2-3--5 in MSU's road sweep at Lake State (Dec. 8-9)...who has a career-high 15 assists this year, ranks second on the team with 23 points. The Sioux Falls, S.D., native has 31-37--67 in 107 career games with the Mavericks.
Clint Lewis Notes: Two-year letterwinner (2015-16, 2016-17) ranked second on the Mavericks in plus/minus with a +12 rating in 2016-17...Completed season with 3-12--15 and played in all 39 game...12 assists ranked seventh on team...Named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week after he registered two assists in the Tech series earlier this year (Oct 27-28), was +3 and blocked 2 shots...Has 0-3--3 in 17 games played in 2017-18.
Brad McClure Notes: Three-time letterwinner (2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17) served as an alternate captain in 2016-17 and is serving as one of three team captains in 2017-18...2016-17 All-WCHA Second Team selection...Led Minnesota State with 132 shots on goal last year, tied for the team lead in goals (14) and ranked fourth in points with 14-14--28...Ranks as Minnesota State's active career games played leader with 139 appearances, owns a consecutive games played streak of 114. McClure owns 38-41--79 numbers for his four-year Minnesota State career to rank 31st on the school's all-time scoring list (DI-era).
Aaron Nelson Notes: Three-year letterwinner (2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17) is a two-time WCHA All-Academic selection and two-time WCHA Scholar- Athlete honoree...Named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week following two wins at Alabama Huntsville (Jan. 6-7), started six games for the Mavericks Jan. 6-Jan. 21... Finished 2016-17 with 6-2-1 record, 2.53 goals against average and a .898 saves percentage...Recorded two shut-outs in nine starts in 2016-17...Career-high 35 saves in 4-4 overtime tie at Michigan Tech Jan. 20.
Daniel Brickley Notes: 2016-17 AHCA/CCM West Second Team All-America..2016-17 WCHA Defensive Player of the Year...2016-17 All-WCHA First Team... 2016-17 WCHA Scholar-Athlete...2016-17 WCHA All-Academic ...Two-time WCHA Defensive Player of the Week in 2016-17...Played with Team USA at 2017 IIHF World Championship ....Finished sophomore year with 8-23--31 to tie for second on Minnesota State scoring charts...Led all WCHA defensemen in scoring and ranked third on the Mavericks with +9 rating...70 shots on goal led Minnesota State defensemen (ranked fifth on team)...Led Mavericks with 23 assists...Ranked second on the team with 72 blocked shots...Named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week after helping lead Mavericks to two-game sweep at Boston University earlier this year (Oct. 13-14)...Has 5-11--16 on the year and leads the team with 35 blocked shots, stands tied for eighth in the nation in points by defensemen.
Max Coatta Notes: Two-time letterwinner (2015-16, 2016-17) is one of three captains for 2017-18...2016-17 WCHA Scholar-Athlete...2016-17 WCHA All-Academic...Played in all 39 games 2016-17...Finished sophomore campaign with 6-7--13... Notched first career hat trick when he scored three times in Minnesota State's 8-6 win at Bemidji State Nov. 11... Has 4-5--9 in 20 games played this year, has 15-20--35, 168 shots on goal and is +14 in 95 career games with the Mavericks.
Steen Cooper Notes: Two-time letterwinner (2015-16, 2016-17)...Saw action in six games as a sophomore in 2016-17...Produced four shots on goal in second season of action...Has 1-0--1 in 16 career games with Mavericks.
Jason Pawloski Notes: Two-time letterwinner (2015-16, 2016-17)...Completed sophomore campaign with 8-5-2 record, 2.10 goals against average and .920 saves percentage...Earned his fourth career shut-out in the 3-0 win at Boston University Oct. 13 and fifth career shutout in 3-0 win at Northern Michigan (Nov. 3)...Stands 21-10-7 and owns a .910 save percentage and a 2.05 goals against average in his three years at Minnesota State.
Ryan Schwalbe Notes: Two-time letterwinner (2015-16, 2016-17)...Finished sophomore campaign with 0-1--1 in 29 games played...Has 0-0-0 in one game played in 2017-18.
Alec Vanko Notes: Two-time letterwinner (2015-16, 2016-17)...2016-17 WCHA Scholar-Athlete...2016-17 WCHA All-Academic...Scored first career goal in 7-1 win at Alaska (Oct. 21, 2016)...Registered 2-1--3 in 12 games played as a sophomore.
Michael Bigelbach Notes: Lettered in freshman campaign in 2016-17...Posted 0-2--2 and was +1 in seven games played on the year...Tallied first career point in first career game with assist on Brad McClure goal in 4-2 home win over Ferris State (Oct. 28)...Assisted on Jordan Nelson's game-winning goal in Minnesota State's 2-1 victory at Lake Superior State, Nov. 5.
Josh French Notes: Lettered in freshman campaign in 2016-17...Posted 0-6--6 and tied for eighth on team with +4 rating in maiden season...Played in all 39 games in first year of college hockey and registered first career point with an assist on Charlie Gerard's goal vs. Bemidji State Nov. 11...Scored first career goal in 5-1 win over Alabama Huntsville Dec. 15...Has 26 shots on goal and is +3 in 18 games played in 2017-18...Has not missed a game in two-year Minnesota State career (59 GP).
Charlie Gerard Notes: Lettered in freshman campaign in 2016-17...Posted 3-2--5 and totalled 48 shots on goal in 28 games in debut season with the Mavericks...Has 1-3--4, has 33 shots on goal and is +3 in 13 games in 2017-18.
Edwin Hookenson Notes: Lettered in freshman campaign in 2016-17...Posted 0-0--0 with 25 shots on goal and 22 blocked shots in 19 games in debut season with the Mavericks...Scored his first career goal in 5-2 win at Bemidji State Nov. 10. Added an assist in 8-6 victory over the Beavers Nov. 11...Has 1-1--2 in 28 career games.
Marc Michaelis Notes: 2016-17 All-WCHA First Team and was also member of the 2016-17 WCHA All-Rookie Team, finished conference play ranking second in the league in points with 13-15-28 in 28 league games...Led Minnesota State in scoring with 36 points on 14 goals and 22 assists...Registered second-highest ever point total by a Maverick freshman for the DI-era...Accrued at least one point in 24 of 39 games played in his debut season with the Mavericks...Two-time WCHA Rookie of the Week award recipient (vs. Alaska Dec. 2-3, first career hat trick and seven total points in two games vs. Nanooks & 1-3--4 in 2 games at Princeton)...Selected as the National Rookie of the Month for December in Division I by the Hockey Commissioners' Association (HCA) and was named WCHA Rookie of the Month after he registered five goals and seven assists for 12 points in six games in December, 2016...Named WCHA Offensive Player of the Week after scoring five times and assisting on another in sweep at Bemidji State (Nov. 10-11, 2017)....2016-17 WCHA Rookie of the Year scored game-winning goal in both victories and recorded his second career hat trick in 5-2 triumph over the Beavers (Nov. 10, 2017)...The Mannheim, Germany native, who ranks second on the Mavericks with a +11 rating and has 8-8--16 in 16 games this year, has accrued 22-30--52 in 55 career GP.
Nick Rivera Notes: Lettered in freshman campaign in 2016-17...Posted 6-4--10 in 38 games played in his maiden season with the Mavericks...Scored twice and had two assists in earning WCHA Rookie of the Week honors for his play in Minnesota State's two games at Alaska Oct. 21-22)...Earned WCHA Rookie of the Week honors for the second time after scoring game-winners in both victories over Northern Michigan (Feb. 17-18, 2017)...Has 5-5--9 in 19 games played in 2017-18.
Ian Scheid Notes: 2016-17 WCHA All-Rookie Team member, registered 8-16--24 to rank sixth on team scoring charts and ranking as one of the top-scoring freshmen defensemen in the country...Led Minnesota State with a +16 rating...Played all 39 games for Minnesota State in debut season...Scored a power play goal in 6-3 win at BU Oct. 13 this year for his second career game-winning tally...His third career GWG came in 3-0 victory at Northern Michigan Nov. 3...Has 7-7--14 in 20 games played this year, has 15-23--38 in 59 career games with Minnesota State (he hasn't missed a game during his time with the Mavericks). Sheid stands tied for the team lead with 55 shots on goal and four power play markers.
Parker Tuomie Notes: Lettered in freshman campaign in 2016-17...Three-time WCHA Rookie of the Week honoree during course of season...Finished year with 8-10--18 and played in all 39 games in debut season with Mavericks...Had a goal and three assists, along with 10 shots on goal, in earning WCHA Rookie of the Week honors for his role in Minnesota State's two wins over St. Cloud State (Oct. 14-15)...Named WCHA Rookie of the Week following Minnesota State's two games vs. Lake Superior State Jan. 27-28...Had a goal and an assist in 4-1 win at Bowling Green earlier this year (Oct. 20, 2017)...has at least one point in each of the last six games and has tallied 4-6--10 during that time, has 5-12--17 on the season to rank fourth on the team scoring charts. Tuomie, who's tied for team lead with 55 shots on goal and four power play goals, hasn't missed a game in his two-year Minnesota State career and has 13-22--35 in 59 career appearances with the Mavericks.
Connor LaCouvee Notes: In first year with Mavericks after three years at Boston University... Had 2.80 goals against average, .905 saves percentage and 14-9-5 record in 32 games played during course of career with Terriers...Earned first career win as a Maverick with 32 saves in 6-3 victory at Boston University (Oct. 13)...Posted a 2-0-0 record with 2.11 goals against average and .925 save percentage in two-game WCHA road sweep at Bemidji State (Nov. 10-11)...Stopped 30 of 32 shots in Friday's 5-2 win over the Beavers and then stopped seven of eight shots in 25:21 minutes of relief work to earn the decision in the 8-6 victory Saturday...Earned his first career shutout when he turned aside 13 shots in Minnesota State's 7-0 win at Lake Superior State...Stands 9-3-0 with a 2.02 goals against average and .908 save percentage for 2017-18.
Walker Duehr Notes: Three-year veteran of United States Hockey league spent the 2016-17 season with Chicago (42 GP, 12-15--27) and Bloomington (15 GP, 3-4--7)......Won Clark Cup in helping Tri-City capture USHL postseason title in 2015-16 where he had 10-13--23 in 38 regular-season games with the Storm...Made first career appearance with Minnesota State in 4-1 win at Bowling Green Oct. 20...Registered first career goal in 6-1 win over Bowling Green (Nov. 17)...Has 2-1--3 in eight games played in his maiden season with the Mavericks.
Dallas Gerads Notes: Spent two seasons with Dubuque of the United States Hockey League prior to joining Mavericks...Scored 10 goals and had 29 assists in 54 games played with the Fighting Saints in 2016-17...Had 14-16--30 in 55 games for Dubuque in 2015-16...Blaine (Minn.) High School product had 15-21--25 with the Bengals in 2013-14 before spending a year with Rio Grande Valley of North American Hockey League in 2014-15 where he put up 20-11--31 in 59 GP...Made Minnesota State debut in 6-3 win at Boston University Oct. 13...Scored first career goal in and got the GWG in Minnesota State's 7-0 victory at Lake Superior State (Dec. 9)...Has 1-1--2 in seven games played in debut season with Mavericks.
Jake Jaremko Notes: Alternate captain for Chicago (USHL) in 2016-17, finished with 17 goals and 29 assists for 46 points in 2016-17...Had 5-8--13 in 14 games as Chicago won the Clark Cup in 2016-17 as postseason league champions...Had 20-28--48 in 60 games in his first year with Chicago in 2015-16...Racked up 22-46--68 in 26 games at Elk River (Minn.) High School in 2014-15 en route to being named Mr. Hockey for the state of Minnesota...Assisted on both game-winning goals in the series at Boston University Oct. 13-14...Had a goal and three assists in two wins at Bemidji State (Nov. 10-11)...Scored twice and had a pair of assists in BGSU series (Nov. 17-18)...heads into the series vs. Alaska Anchorage having racked up 5-11--16 in the last ten games. Jaremko leads Minnesota State freshmen in scoring and is tied for third on the team with 5-16--21 in 20 games. Jaremko is tied for first in the nation in points and assists amongst all freshmen and he ranks second in points per game nationally amongst first-year players with a 1.05 mark.
Reggie Lutz Notes: Registered 24 goals and 23 assists for 47 points in 58 games with Chicago (USHL) in 2016-17...Had 7-5--12 in 14 games in helping lead the Steel to the Clark Cup as USHL tournament champions...Won a Robertson Cup in helping Fairbanks capture the North American Hockey League postseason championship in 2015-16...Had 9-3--12 in 12 play-off games for the Ice Dogs and was named Robertson Cup MVP...Made his Minnesota State debut in 3-0 victory at Boston University Oct. 14...Had three assists in 7-0 win at Lake Superior State (Dec. 9)... Has a three-game point scoring streak going (2-1--3)...Has ten points on three goals and seven assists in the last ten games, ranks eighth on the team in scoring with 4-9--13 in 16 games played. His three game-winning goals lead the team.
Jared Spooner Notes: Team captain for Green Bay (USHL) in 2016-17 where he collected 19 goals and 27 assists for 46 points in 56 games played...Had 6-11--17 in 55 games with the Gamblers in 2015-16...Named to NAHL Central Division All-Rookie Team after putting up 9-34--43 in 58 games with Bismarck in 2014-15...Scored first career goal as a collegian in 6-3 win at Boston University Oct. 13...Has played in all 20 games to date for Minnesota State and has tallied 2-7--9.
Connor Mackey Notes: Alternate captain for Green Bay (USHL) in 2016-17 where he had six goals and 41 assists for 47 points in 60 games...2016-17 USHL Defenseman of the Year and USHL First Team selection led all league defensemen in scoring and ranked 16th overall in points...Ranked third in the USHL in assists...Led all USHL players with 30 power-play assists and 34 power-play points, and his four goals on the man advantage were the third-most in the league among defensemen...Has played in all 20 games for the Mavericks so far this season and has 2-4--6 on the year.
Jack McNeely Notes: Team captain for Tri-City of the United States Hockey League where he had 0-1--1 in 11 games played with the Storm prior to be traded to Muskegon (1-10--11 in 38 GP) in 2016-17...Won Clark Cup in helping Tri-City capture USHL postseason title in 2015-16 where he had 0-2--2 in 11 regular-season games with the Storm...Lakeville North (Minn.) High School product...Lakeville, Minn., native has seen action in 19 games in 2017-18 and owns 0-6--6 numbers.
Riese Zmolek Notes: Recipient of the USHL's Curt Hammer Award in 2016-17...Registered four goals and 12 assists for 16 points in 45 games with Cedar Rapids of the USHL in 2016-17...Served as team captain of the RoughRiders in 2016-17...Had 3-8--11 in 56 GP in first year with Cedar Rapids in 2015-16...Rochester Century (Minn.) product had 19-20--39 in 2014-15...Scored first career goal in 6-3 win at Boston University Oct. 14...Totalled 1-2--3 in Minnesota State's two games vs. Northern Michigan last weekend and now has 2-2--4 in 15 games played this year.
Noteables: Minnesota State enters the series with Alaska Anchorage ranking sixth in the country in power play percentage (.258, 23/89) and is tenth in penalty killing (.865, 77/89).
Roster Make Up: Minnesota State's 2017-18 roster is made up 11 Minnesota natives, two from Germany, North Dakota, South Dakota and British Columbia. The rest of the 28-man line-up consists of one each from Alaska, California, Illinois, Nebraska, Ohio, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Utah and Wisconsin.
On Tap: Following this weekend's games vs. Alaska Anchorage, the Mavericks play at University of Alaska Jan. 12-13. Minnesota State owns a 15-8-1 all-time record vs. the Nanooks. Minnesota State and Alaska played six times in 2016-17 with the Mavericks going 4-1-1 in those contests.
Following four games in Alaska the next two weekends, Minnesota State will take on St. Cloud State in a nonconference game slated for Jan. 20 in St. Cloud in a Hockey Day Minnesota contest slated for a 5:07 p.m. CST face-off. The Mavericks will continue nonconference action Jan. 23 with a home game vs. Minnesota Duluth.
